Rest in Peace Ed Morales...

[Richard Hays]

To honor a past MHGA pilot......and friend...I need to throw out this other than fun post. Please humor me.

I just found out today that Ed Morales passed away back in 2011 of Colon Cancer. Wes Shearer.... ( another MHGA alum ) called me tonight and informed me. We were all very close "back in the day" . That day was during the late 70's and early eighties. Young guns. Loved to fly.

Flew a Wills Wing Raven. Kinda looked like a cross between a surfer dude and some Celtic pretty boy with freckles. Nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. Loved to fly. We spent many a day at Oregon Ridge doing the do and flying and dreaming of big flights. In fact...Ed Morales dates back to the Jerry Lahnam days. Sail Flight School of Hanggliding. The old timers on this site will know what I speak of. We flew standards and Sky Sports wings and other junk. We flew the Sac and South site and West Site and Hyner and High Rock and Stine Hill and McConnellsburg. Times of fun. Youth. Adventure.

I last saw Ed up at Hellam Hill. Atop the hill teaching a class......I saw a car pull off down below. A figure began the long trek up the hill. Just another wuffo I assumed. But it turned out to be Ed. And he looked great. We caught up on old times and he threatened to get back into flying. I told him to call me when he was ready.

I never heard from him. Sad...because he grew up just miles from my house here in Baltimore County. He had since moved on.Had some health issues. Nothing more than all of us had like getting overweight ( don't I know that one ) and stuff. But he was back on track and looking for adventure once again.
Wes Shearer called me tonight. Informed me of his findings. And....another chapter in the history of maryland hanggliding closes. And by Maryland I mean MARYLAND. Ed was one of the second generation pilots who helped forge what we all have and enjoy today. And...I am saddened by this news.

So....thank you for this forum. Live for the day. And every time you setup your wing at the Pulpit or High Rock or Bills Hill or Oregon Ridge or wherever....just remember that there are/were pilots before you that paved the way to make your flying possible around here. Hard work...club involvement...and comradrie....made much of what we enjoy today possible. Ed was but a piece of the pie in what I speak of. And I will miss him.

Richard Hays
President
Maryland Hang Gliding Association